Students file in to the Mount Pleasant Middle School Wednesday morning Nov. 13, 2013 in Schenectady, N.Y., after a shooting that killed the driver of a car being pursued. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union archive)

Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN

Students file in to the Mount Pleasant Middle School Wednesday...

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Crime scene tape secures the rear of Mount Pleasant Middle School Wednesday morning Nov. 13, 2013 after a shooting victim was discovered in the area early this morning in Schenectady, N.Y. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union archive)

Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN

Crime scene tape secures the rear of Mount Pleasant Middle School...

Wheelman in Schenectady killing makes plea deal to testify against other defendants

The driver in a wild, retaliatory shooting that killed a man last fall outside the city's Mont Pleasant Middle School will spend 10 years in prison in a plea deal struck Friday with prosecutors.

Gilbert Williams, 20, of Schenectady, known as "G," pleaded guilty to manslaughter before Schenectady County Judge Karen Drago for his role in the Nov. 13 slaying of William Riddick, 24, of Albany on Norwood Avenue.

The plea deal, which resolves a second-degree murder charge carrying 25 years to life in prison, includes cooperation with prosecutors, led by Chief Assistant District Attorney Philip Mueller. Williams also must serve five years of probation. If Williams fails to cooperate, he could be sentenced to 15 to 25 years.

Drago tentatively set sentencing for May 8.

Prosecutors allege Williams, parolee Nicholas Khan, known as "Niddy;" and a third, unidentified accomplice went looking for Riddick and Dayshon "Day Day" McKenzie, 21, of Albany to avenge a carjacking earlier the night of the killing. They say Khan and his girlfriend, Tashiana Keller, were robbed at gunpoint by Riddick and McKenzie on Chestnut Street.

When Khan, Williams and the third person spotted Riddick and McKenzie in a car on Crane Street, they followed them in their own vehicle with Williams behind the wheel. A chase ensued in which, according to Mueller, Khan opened fire at Riddick's car three separate times. By then the time had passed midnight into Nov. 13.

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Mueller said Khan first fired at Riddick's car on Eighth Avenue and Webster Street, then again at First Avenue and Orchard Street.

The third time Khan fired, the prosecutor said, Riddick was struck at Norwood Avenue near the middle school. His car crashed into a chain-link fence by the school, causing a pole to smash through the windshield and nearly impale both occupants.Riddick was pronounced dead at Albany Medical Center Hospital.

In December, Khan was charged with second-degree murder. McKenzie has been charged with robbery and Keller with first-degree perjury for allegedly lying to a grand jury.